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Journalism Is not for Propagating Hearsay News – Kerala High Court
Journalism is one of the major bodies of democracy. They are the ones who reveal all the ups and downs of the government, tells us about the national and international updates, keeps us up to date with new technologies, and also give us the message about what all is happening in our society. Therefore it means that journalism cannot work on rumors spread by the people or the fake news spread by the people because once the news is published or telecasted on the TV it can’t be taken back and most of the people also get influenced by this news and take the wrong steps.
Journalism is not for propagating hearsay news the Kerala High Court remarked while considering bail application filed by journalist Sreekandan Nair, who is the managing director as well as the anchor of 24 News Channel. The Kerala high court recently warned journalists against the broadcast of incorrect news or spread rumors, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, while allowing anticipatory bail for news anchor Sreekandan Nair and government doctor in case of involving allegations of spreading fabrication.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed that Journalism is not for spreading wrong news. Things that should be published or telecasted should be decided sensibly, the duty of the journalist is to convey the right message to the youth. The journalist should carefully study all the facts before publishing a piece of news and make sure that It is not to dull the image of any person or section of people.
The main allegation against Sreekandan and the government doctor was that they tried to convey the hearsay news about the COVID-19 pandemic in a TV program known as “Sreekandan Nair Show”. The doctor allegedly gave false news to create a panic among the people. Both of them have visited the High Court with the pre- bail application after the case was filed against them offenses under section 505(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Court which states that (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offense against the State or the public tranquillity) and Section 120 of the Kerala Police Act.
The debate discussed a patient with COVID-19 like symptoms who had supposedly visited the clinic where the doctor worked. The doctor said on the show that she had informed the District Health Services about the patient’s condition. She kept a secrete that she was not COVID positive. Based on the TV show the District officer filled the case against them for spreading false information to create panic amongst the citizen. The public prosecutor opposed their bail plea contending that they were trying to mislead the people by false news telecasted.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said that the function of the journalist is to educate the people's minds not to pollute it with the false news. Judge also urged journalists to remember they were heirs to legends like Swedeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai and Kesari Balakrishna Pillai.
The Hon'ble judge also stated that in the time of the novel CORONA virus is spreading every day, the health department is fighting day and night to save everyone. So, pointing a single incident against them will not be appreciated and it will affect the morale of the fighters.
Conclusion
The work of the journalist is not to publish the hearsay news which can affect public morale. They should study well about the news before publishing it and make sure that it does not stain the image of any individual. Once the news is published it can’t be taken back because most of the people do not watch the apology or the corrected news which is published later. In the above case, the Judge PV Kunhikrishnan grated the anticipatory bail to the Sreekandan Nair and the government doctor with some stringent punishments.
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